Tuesday, March 06, 2012

ABC WEDNESDAY-"H"-Heartbreaking Memorial

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rental truck with explosives in front of the Alfred E. Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City and, at 9:02am, a massive explosion occurred which sheared the entire north side of the building, killing 168 people.

Field of Empty Chairs

The 168 chairs represent the lives taken on April 19, 1995. They stand in nine rows to represent each floor of the building, and each chair bears the name of someone killed on that floor. Nineteen smaller chairs stand for the children. The field is located on the footprint of the Murrah Building.

We chose to take the southern route home from Santa Fe to Saint Paul, Mn for the express purpose of viewing this heartbreaking Memorial site.

18 comments:

I remember this day very well. My parents both worked downtown and sometimes my Dad had business in this building. I was fortunate that no one in my family was injured, but I still feel for the Oklahomans who lost loved ones. Every time I go back to this memorial I get a little teary and choked up. It's a moving place.

OKC is not my hometown but I have been there so many times on my way to my hometown (Quincy, IL) that it sometimes feels that way. My brother-in-law lived there for many years so it made a great stopping place with lots of things to see.

There is something about a mass of identical simple forms lined up in neat rows that draws emotion from the viewers. That is the effect of the American Cemetery in Normandy. This is also a powerful monument. Thank you for showing it.